Met Office snow verdict for Christmas Day including exact regions set to miss out on flurries

Many areas of the UK were hit with at least a dusting of snow, with some areas hit with a couple of inches of the white stuff, over the last week. Now the verdict is in for December 25

The verdict on if the UK will see snow on Christmas Day is in from the weather experts at the Met Office.

Many already saw many areas of the UK hit with at least a dusting of snow last week, with some areas hit with a couple of inches of the white stuff. And Storm Bert battered many parts of the country with heavy rain and flooding. Now the weather experts at the Met Office are revealing what we should expect as the days get shorter, thanks to their long-range forecast which takes us up to December 25 itself.

The long-range forecast mentions snow flurries for the north of the UK - with the Scottish hills most likely to be white on the big day. The Met's long range forecast covers the period from December 11 to December 25 and predicts a settled lead up to Christmas.

It reads: "The start of this period looks like being largely settled, with high pressure close to if not over the UK. However, towards mid-December, there are signs that it will become less settled with west or northwesterly types preferred. These will bring some wetter and windier spells with a risk of some snow, especially for hills in the north.

"These conditions may prevail into late December, although drier, more settled spells may also affect the UK at times, these probably more likely towards the south. Temperatures generally close to average through the period." Between now and Christmas it could be a chilly advent, as the the latest WX Charts map for the upcoming week paints most of the UK in cool greens, suggesting a range between zero and 5C.

However, a menacing purple area looms towards the northwest, signalling even frostier times ahead. WXCharts, using MetDesk data, predict that December 4 will see the temperature drop, while previous forecasts have suggested the mercury will plummet after December 6 - especially across Wales, northern England, and Scotland.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong warns: "With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days."

He added: “The current focus for upcoming snow and ice risk is from later on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, with snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, as well as drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales. In excess of 10cm of snow is possible over higher ground within the warning areas, with 1-2cm possibly settling at lower levels, which has the potential to lead to some travel disruption. Ice is an additional hazard and is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces.”